JP2021123038A - Head maintenance device, liquid discharge device, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve cleanability for a cap and a wiping member.SOLUTION: A head maintenance device 60 includes cleaning means 80 which cleans a suction cap 61 and a wiper 63. The cleaning means has a suction member 81. The suction member is movable to a position where the suction member can be brought into contact with an abutting surface 61a and an inside wall surface 61b of the suction cap and a position where the suction member can be brought into contact with the wiper. The wiper is cleaned by raising the wiper and moving the suction member. The abutting surface and the inside wall surface of the suction cap are cleaned by raising the suction cap and moving the suction member. As for the cleaning means, the suction cap, and the wiper, the suction cap and the wiper are arranged across the cleaning means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a head maintenance device, a device for discharging a liquid, and a printing device.

The device for discharging the liquid includes a head maintenance device (maintenance / recovery device) including a cap for capping the nozzle surface of the head for discharging the liquid, a wiping member for wiping the nozzle surface, and the like.

Conventionally, there is known one provided with a cleaning means for cleaning the contact surface of the cap with the nozzle surface and the top surface and side surface of the wiping member with a web-shaped wiper cleaner (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-025621

However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the contact surface of the cap can be cleaned, but the side wall surface of the cap cannot be cleaned.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the cleanability of a cap and a wiping member.

In order to solve the above problems, the head maintenance device according to claim 1 of the present invention is
A cap that caps the nozzle surface of the head that discharges liquid,
A wiping member that wipes the nozzle surface and
A cleaning means for cleaning the cap and the wiping member by moving relative to the cap and the wiping member is provided.
The cleaning means includes an absorbing member that comes into contact with the cap and the wiping member.
The cleaning means, the cap, and the wiping member are configured such that the cap and the wiping member are arranged with the cleaning means interposed therebetween.

According to the present invention, the cleanability of the cap and the wiping member can be improved.

It is explanatory drawing of the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which provides the explanation of the cleaning operation of the same embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which provides the cleaning means of the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective explanatory view which looked at the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention from above. It is also a perspective explanatory view seen from below. It is explanatory drawing which provides the explanation of the cleaning operation of the same embodiment. It is a perspective explanatory view which looked at the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on 7th Embodiment of this invention from above. It is also a perspective explanatory view seen from below. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on 8th Embodiment of this invention from above. It is also an explanatory view seen from below. It is explanatory drawing which provides the explanation of the cleaning operation of the same embodiment. It is a perspective explanatory view which looked at the head maintenance apparatus which concerns on 9th Embodiment of this invention from above. It is also a perspective explanatory view seen from below. It is a perspective explanatory drawing of an example of a printing apparatus as the apparatus which discharges a liquid of this invention. It is also a plan explanatory view. It is also a front explanatory view.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a head maintenance device according to the same embodiment.

The head maintenance device 60 includes a suction cap 61 that also serves as a moisturizing cap, a blade-shaped wiper 63 that is a wiping member, a cleaning means 80, and a cleaning liquid applying means 90.

The suction cap 61 caps the nozzle surface 20a of the head 20 that discharges the liquid. A suction means such as a suction pump is connected to the suction cap 61. The head 20 is mounted on a carriage 11 that reciprocates in the direction of arrow X. The wiper 63 wipes the nozzle surface 20a of the head 20.

The suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are arranged so as to be movable up and down in the direction of arrow Z.

The cleaning means 80 includes a holding member 82 that holds the absorbing member 81, and is arranged so as to be movable in the direction of arrow X. In the present embodiment, the cleaning means 80 is located at a position where the absorbing member 81 can contact the contact surface 61a, the inner wall surface 61b and the outer wall surface 61c of the suction cap 61, and a position where the absorbing member 81 can contact the wiper 63. It is movable.

In the present embodiment, the cleaning means 80, the suction cap 61, and the wiper 63 are arranged with the cleaning means 80 interposed therebetween.

The hardness of the absorbing member 81 is lower than the hardness of the suction cap 61, and when the suction cap 61 is pressed against the absorbing member 81, the suction cap 61 can bite into the absorbing member 81, and the inner wall surface 61b and the outer side of the suction cap 61 The wall surface 61c can be cleaned.

Further, by making the width of the absorbing member 81 wider than the width in the longitudinal direction of the suction cap 61, it is possible to clean the entire contact surface 61a and the side wall surface 61 of the suction cap 61 with one movement. The width of the suction cap 61 is the width in the longitudinal direction of the suction cap 61 or the width in the lateral direction of the suction cap 61, depending on the relative movement direction of the absorption member 81 with respect to the suction cap 61.

Further, although the absorbing member 81 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in the present embodiment, it can also have a rotating body shape. Further, the absorbing member 81 may be a brush.

The cleaning liquid applying means 90 applies the cleaning liquid 91 to the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 from the side opposite to the side in contact with the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 of the absorbing member 81.

The cleaning means 80 and the cleaning liquid applying means 90 can be moved between the cleaning position shown in FIG. 1 and the evacuation position for retracting from the moving range of the carriage 11. As a result, the cleaning means 80 and the cleaning liquid applying means 90 evacuate from the moving range of the carriage 11 when wiping the nozzle surface 20a of the head 20 with the wiper 63 and capping the nozzle surface 20a of the head 20 with the suction cap 61 or the like. do.

Next, the cleaning operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for the same explanation.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the cleaning means 80 and the cleaning liquid applying means 90 are moved to apply the cleaning liquid 91 from the cleaning liquid applying means 90 to the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the wiper 63 rises in the direction of arrow Z1, and the cleaning means 80 moves in the direction of arrow X1. As a result, the liquid remaining on a part of the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63 is absorbed by the absorbing member 81 and removed, and the wiper 63 is cleaned by the cleaning means 80. A part of the side wall surface 63b is a part of the top surface 63a side.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2C, the suction cap 61 rises in the direction of arrow Z1. At this time, the suction cap 61 rises to a height at which the contact surface 61a, a part of the inner wall surface 61b, and a part of the outer wall surface 61c bite into the absorbing member 81. A part of the inner wall surface 61b and a part of the outer wall surface 61c are a part on the contact surface 61a side.

Then, as the cleaning means 80 moves in the direction of the arrow X2, the absorbing member 81 moves while the contact surface 61a, the inner wall surface 61b, and the outer wall surface 61c of the suction cap 61 bite into the absorbing member 81.

As a result, the liquid remaining on the contact surface 61a of the suction cap 61, a part of the inner wall surface 61b, and a part of the outer wall surface 61c is absorbed by the absorbing member 81 and removed, and the suction cap 61 is cleaned by the cleaning means 80. NS.

In this way, the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 can be cleaned by moving the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 so as to come into contact with the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 which is a wiping member.

Then, by biting the contact surface 61a, the inner wall surface 61b, and the outer wall surface 61c of the suction cap 61 into the absorbing member 81, not only the contact surface 61a of the suction cap 61 but also the inner wall surface 61b and the outer wall surface 61c can be cleaned. The liquid remaining on a part of the inner wall surface 61b and a part of the outer wall surface 61c can also be removed.

Thereby, the cleanability of the cap and the wiping member can be improved.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are arranged side by side so as to be adjacent to each other, and the cleaning means 80 is arranged on the side side of the wiper 63. At this time, in the moving direction of the cleaning means 80 (direction of arrow X1), the cleaning means 80, the wiper 63, and the suction cap 61 are arranged in this order.

When the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are cleaned by the cleaning means 80, the cleaning liquid 91 is applied to the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 as shown in FIG. 3A, and then the cleaning liquid 91 is applied to the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80. The suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are raised in the direction of arrow Z1.

At this time, similarly to the first embodiment, the abutting surface 61a of the suction cap 61, a part of the inner wall surface 61b and a part of the outer wall surface 61c, and the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63 are attached to the absorbing member 81. The suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are raised to a height at which a part of the wiper bites.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, by moving the cleaning means 80 in the direction of the arrow X1, the absorption member 81 has a part of the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63, and the contact surface of the suction cap 61. The absorbing member 81 moves while the 61a, a part of the inner wall surface 61b, and a part of the outer wall surface 61c bite into each other.

As a result, the liquid remaining on the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63, the liquid remaining on the contact surface 61a of the suction cap 61, the inner wall surface 61b, and the outer wall surface 61c are absorbed. It is absorbed by 81, removed and cleaned.

In this way, the wiper 63 and the suction cap 61 can be cleaned by moving the cleaning means 80 in one direction.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are arranged side by side so as to be adjacent to each other, and the cleaning means 80 is arranged on the side side of the cap 61. At this time, in the moving direction of the cleaning means 80 (direction of arrow X1), the cleaning means 80, the suction cap 61, and the wiper 63 are arranged in this order.

Also in the present embodiment, when the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are cleaned by the cleaning means 80, as shown in FIG. 4A, the cleaning liquid is applied to the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 as in the second embodiment. Then, the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are raised in the direction of arrow Z1.

At this time, similarly to the second embodiment, the suction cap 61 has a contact surface 61a, a part of the inner wall surface 61b and a part of the outer wall surface 61c, and a part of the top surface and the side wall surface of the wiper 63. Raise the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 to the height at which the wiper bites.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, by moving the cleaning means 80 in the direction of the arrow X1, the abutting surface 61a of the suction cap 61, a part of the inner wall surface 61b, and one of the outer wall surface 61c are attached to the absorbing member 81. The absorbing member 81 moves while a part of the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63 bites into the portion.

As a result, the liquid remaining on the contact surface 61a of the suction cap 61, a part of the inner wall surface 61b and a part of the outer wall surface 61c, and the liquid remaining on the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63 are absorbed members. It is absorbed by 81, removed and cleaned.

In this way, the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 can be cleaned by moving the cleaning means 80 in one direction.

In each of the above embodiments, the cleaning is performed by moving the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 after the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are raised, but the operation order may be reversed. ..

That is, after the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 moves to the cleaning position, the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 rise individually or simultaneously, and the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 are pressed against the absorbing member 81 to bite into the residual liquid. Can also be used as an operation sequence for absorbing and removing.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment.

In the present embodiment, in the first embodiment, the thickness t of the absorbing member 81 is made larger than the height h of the inner wall surface 61b of the suction cap 61.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the absorbing member 81 can be pressed to the bottom surface of the suction cap 61 for cleaning. That is, the liquid remaining on the entire inner wall surface 61b can be cleaned, and the outer wall surface 61c that becomes dirty to the same height as the inner wall surface 61b can be reliably cleaned.

In this case, the thickness t of the absorbing member 81 is 1.2 times or more, preferably 1.5 times or more the height h of the inner wall surface 61b of the suction cap 61.

Although the description is given here in the first embodiment, the relationship between the absorption member 81 and the suction cap 61 in the second and third embodiments can be similarly applied.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram provided for explaining the cleaning means of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment.

A plurality of slits 83 are formed in the holding member 82 that holds the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 through the holding member 82.

As a result, even if the holding member 82 is an opaque member, dirt can be visually observed, and it becomes easy to grasp the replacement time.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the cleaning liquid 91 is dropped from the slit 83 of the holding member 82 by the cleaning liquid applying means 90, or as shown in FIG. 6C, the cleaning liquid 91 is dropped by a dropper 92 or the like. By doing so, the cleaning liquid 91 can be applied to the absorbing member 81.

As a result, the absorbing member 81 is in a state of containing the cleaning liquid 91, and the cleaning property is improved as compared with the case where the cleaning liquid 91 is not contained.

Next, the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a perspective explanatory view of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment as viewed from above, and FIG. 8 is a perspective explanatory view of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment as viewed from below.

In the present embodiment, the head maintenance device 60 holds the suction cap 61, the three moisturizing caps 62, and the wiper 63 in the maintenance holder 65 so as to be able to move up and down (up and down).

The cleaning means 80 includes a moving means 85 that holds the rectangular parallelepiped absorbing member 81 in the holding member 82 and moves the absorbing member 81 together with the holding member 82.

The moving means 85 has a cam 86 that moves the holding member 82 in the Y direction of the arrow. The cam 86 is engaged with the engaging groove 82a of the holding member 82. By rotating the cam 86, the absorbing member 81 is moved between the cleaning position where the absorbing member 81 contacts the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 and the retracting position where the absorbing member 81 does not contact the wiper 63 and the wiper 63. Can be done.

In the present embodiment, the width W1 of the absorbing member 81 is wider than the width W2 in the arrangement direction of the plurality of (here, four) suction caps 61 and the moisturizing caps 62.

As a result, it is possible to clean a plurality of caps with a single pressing operation.

Next, the cleaning operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for the same explanation. Although the reference numerals of the cap 61 and the wiper 63 are omitted in the drawings, they are the same as those in the first embodiment (the following embodiments are also the same).

As shown in FIG. 9, the cam 86 of the moving means 85 moves the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 in the direction of the arrow Y1 to bring the absorbing member 81 into a cleaning position facing the suction cap 61, the wiper 63, and the like. After that, the suction cap 61, the wiper 63, and the like are raised in the direction of arrow Z1 and pressed against the absorbing member 81 until they bite into the absorbing member 81.

As a result, the liquid remaining on the contact surface 61a and the inner wall surface 61b of the suction cap 61 and the liquid remaining on the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63 are absorbed by the absorbing member 81 and removed. Will be cleaned.

Next, the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment as viewed from above, and FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment as viewed from below.

The cleaning means 80 includes a moving means 85 for moving the absorbing member 81 together with the holding member 82. The moving means 85 has an endless belt 87 hung around a plurality of rollers 88, and connects the connecting portion 82b of the holding member 82 to the belt 87.

By orbiting the belt 87 of the moving means 85, the absorbing member is located between the cleaning position where the absorbing member 81 comes into contact with the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 and the position where the absorbing member 81 does not come into contact with the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63. Move 81.

In the present embodiment, the belt 87 of the moving means 85 is moved around, the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 is moved in the direction of the arrow Y1, and is moved to a position facing the suction cap 61, the wiper 63, and the like. After that, the suction cap 61, the wiper 63, and the like are raised in the direction of arrow Z1 and pressed against the absorbing member 81 until they bite into the absorbing member 81.

Alternatively, after the suction cap 61, the wiper 63, and the like are raised in the direction of arrow Z1, the belt 87 of the moving means 85 is moved orbiting, and the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 is moved in the direction of arrow Y1.

As a result, the liquid remaining on the contact surface 61a and the inner wall surface 61b of the suction cap 61 and the liquid remaining on the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63 are absorbed by the absorbing member 81 and removed. Will be cleaned.

Next, the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment as viewed from above, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment as viewed from below.

In the present embodiment, the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 in the sixth embodiment has a roller shape, and the shaft portions 81a at both ends of the absorbing member 81 are rotatably held by the flange portions 82c provided on the holding member 82. ..

Next, the cleaning operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for the same explanation.

As shown in FIG. 14, when cleaning the suction cap 61, the wiper 63, etc., the cleaning liquid 91 is applied to the absorbing member 81, and the suction cap 61, the wiper 63 is raised in the arrow Z1 direction to a height at which the suction cap 61, the wiper 63 bite into the absorbing member 81. .. After that, the cam 86 of the moving means 85 moves the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 in the direction of the arrow Y1.

At this time, the absorbing member 81 moves while the suction cap 61 and the like bite into it. As a result, the liquid remaining on the contact surface 61a and the inner wall surface 61b of the suction cap 61 and the liquid remaining on the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63 are absorbed by the absorbing member 81 and removed. Will be cleaned.

Next, the ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a perspective explanatory view of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment as viewed from above, and FIG. 16 is a perspective explanatory view of the head maintenance device according to the same embodiment as viewed from below.

In the present embodiment, the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 in the seventh embodiment has a roller shape. The shaft portions 81a at both ends of the absorbing member 81 are rotatably held by the flange portions 82c provided on the holding member 82.

Then, when cleaning the suction cap 61, the wiper 63, and the like, the cleaning liquid 91 is applied to the absorbing member 81 as in the eighth embodiment described above, and the arrow reaches a height at which the suction cap 61 and the wiper 63 bite into the absorbing member 81. Raise in the Z1 direction. After that, the absorbing member 81 of the cleaning means 80 is moved in the direction of arrow Y1 by the belt 87 of the moving means 85.

At this time, the absorbing member 81 moves while the suction cap 61 and the like bite into it. As a result, the liquid remaining on the contact surface 61a and the inner wall surface 61b of the suction cap 61 and the liquid remaining on the top surface 63a and the side wall surface 63b of the wiper 63 are absorbed by the absorbing member 81 and removed. Will be cleaned.

In the sixth to ninth embodiments, the absorbing member 81 may move in the lateral direction (arrow X direction) of the suction cap 61, as in the first embodiment. Similarly, with respect to the first to third embodiments, the absorbing member 81 may move in the longitudinal direction (arrow Y direction) of the suction cap 61, as in the sixth embodiment and the like.

Next, an example of a printing device as a device for discharging the liquid of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19. FIG. 17 is a perspective explanatory view of the printing apparatus, FIG. 18 is a plan explanatory view, and FIG. 19 is a front explanatory view.

The printing device 1 is a device that discharges a liquid, and includes a plurality of heads 20 (20A to 20D) that are liquid discharging means for discharging the liquid, and a carriage 11 on which a sub tank or the like is mounted. The head 20 has a plurality of nozzle rows, and discharges, for example, liquids of each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), white ink, transparent ink, and the like.

The guide member 12 holds the carriage 11 so as to be reciprocally movable in the main scanning direction X. The carriage 11 is connected to a timing belt 17 around which the drive pulley 15 rotated by the main scanning motor 14 and the driven pulley 16 are rotated, and the carriage 11 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction X by driving the main scanning motor 14. Let me.

The encoder sheet 18 is arranged along the main scanning direction X. The encoder sheet 18 is provided with a periodic slit. The carriage 11 has a reading sensor that reads the slit of the encoder sheet 18, and can detect the position of the carriage 11 in the main scanning direction X from the reading result of the reading sensor.

The controller board 50 controls to eject liquid ink from the head 20 by adjusting the timing from the carriage position obtained from the reading result of the reading sensor of the carriage 11 to the ejection position.

On the carriage 11, a sub tank that temporarily stores the liquid to be supplied to the heads 20A to 20C is integrally mounted with the heads 20A to 20C, and the liquid stored in the main tank 32 is supplied to the sub tank.

The printing device 1 includes a platen 40 which is a holding member for holding the fabric 400 as a printing target (liquid application target). The platen 40 is mounted on the elevating mechanism 41 so that the height in the vertical direction Z can be adjusted. The elevating mechanism 41 of the platen 40 is mounted on the slider 42. The slider 42 is movably mounted on the slide rail 43 extending in the sub-scanning direction Y orthogonal to the main scanning direction X.

The slider 42 is reciprocated in the sub-scanning direction Y by the sub-scanning drive mechanism via the timing belt 45. By reciprocating the slider 42 in the sub-scanning direction Y, the platen 40 is also reciprocated in the sub-scanning direction Y.

A maintenance device 60 for maintaining and recovering the head 20 is arranged on one end side in the main scanning direction. The maintenance device 60 includes a suction cap 61 that caps the nozzle surface of the head 20, a moisturizing cap 62 that caps the nozzle surface of the head 20 for moisturizing, and a wiper 63 that is a wiping member that wipes the nozzle surface of the head 20. I have. A suction pump is connected to the suction cap 61.

Then, the cleaning means 80 and the cleaning means 80 described in each of the above-described embodiments for cleaning the suction cap 61, the wiper 63, and the like are provided.

A discharge receiver 66 is arranged on the other end side in the main scanning direction. During printing, the head 20 is maintained and recovered by discharging the liquid from the head 20 to the discharge receiver 66.

Further, the printing device 1 includes a power button 70, an operation unit 71, a power supply unit 72, and the like.

When printing on a cloth (printing target) such as a T-shirt in the printing device 1, the cloth 400 is set on the platen 40. After that, by the operation of the operation unit 71, the platen 40 is completely pulled back into the apparatus via the slider 42.

When the drawing of the platen 40 is completed, the print data standby state is set. Here, the printing operation is started when the printing device 1 receives print data from an external information processing device. Alternatively, when the print data is stored in the controller board 50 in advance, the printing operation is started by selecting the print data in the operation unit 71.

When the printing operation is started, the platen 40 is moved to the printing start position via the slider 42. After that, the carriage 11 is moved and the liquid is discharged from the head 20, and one line is printed. When one line is printed, the platen 40 is moved by one line via the slider 42. By repeating one scan of the carriage 11 and the intermittent movement of the slider 42, printing is performed on a desired area of the fabric 400. After the printing is completed, the platen 40 is returned to the front of the device and the printing is completed.

In the above embodiment, the case where the printing target is a cloth is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be similarly applied to the case where a printing target other than the cloth is set on the holding member for printing.

The "device for discharging a liquid" includes a device provided with a liquid discharge head or a liquid discharge unit and driving the liquid discharge head to discharge the liquid. The device for discharging the liquid includes not only a device capable of discharging the liquid to a device to which the liquid can adhere, but also a device for discharging the liquid toward the air or the liquid.

The "device for discharging the liquid" can also include means for feeding, transporting, and discharging paper to which the liquid can adhere, as well as a pretreatment device, a posttreatment device, and the like.

For example, as a "device that ejects a liquid", an image forming apparatus that ejects ink to form an image on paper, and a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional object) are formed in layers in order to form a three-dimensional object. There is a three-dimensional modeling device (three-dimensional modeling device) that discharges the modeling liquid into the powder layer.

Further, the "device for discharging a liquid" is not limited to a device in which a significant image such as characters and figures is visualized by the discharged liquid. For example, those that form patterns that have no meaning in themselves and those that form a three-dimensional image are also included.

The above-mentioned "material to which a liquid can adhere" means a material to which a liquid can adhere at least temporarily, such as one that adheres and adheres, and one that adheres and permeates. Specific examples include recording media such as paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, and cloth, electronic substrates, electronic components such as piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and media such as inspection cells. These include the inner and outer components of the vehicle body, the inner and outer walls of a building, etc., and include all substances to which the liquid adheres unless otherwise specified.

The material of the above-mentioned "material to which liquid can be attached" may be paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics or the like as long as the liquid can be attached even temporarily.

In addition, as a "device for ejecting a liquid", a treatment liquid coating device for ejecting a treatment liquid to a paper in order to apply the treatment liquid to the surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper, etc. There is an injection granulation device that granulates fine particles of the raw material by injecting a composition liquid in which the raw material is dispersed in a solution through a nozzle.

In addition, image formation, recording, printing, printing, printing, modeling, etc. in the terms of the present application are all synonymous.

1 Printing device (device that discharges liquid)
11 Carriage 20 Head (Liquid discharge means)
40 Platen 60 Head maintenance device 61 Suction cap 62 Moisturizing cap 80 Cleaning means 81 Absorbent member 85 Transportation means 400 Cloth

Claims (13)

A cap that caps the nozzle surface of the head that discharges liquid,
A wiping member that wipes the nozzle surface and
A cleaning means for cleaning the cap and the wiping member by moving relative to the cap and the wiping member is provided.
The cleaning means includes an absorbing member that comes into contact with the cap and the wiping member.
A head maintenance device characterized in that the cleaning means, the cap, and the wiping member are arranged with the cap and the wiping member sandwiching the cleaning means. A cap that caps the nozzle surface of the head that discharges liquid,
A wiping member that wipes the nozzle surface and
A cleaning means for cleaning the cap and the wiping member by moving relative to the cap and the wiping member is provided.
The cleaning means includes an absorbing member that comes into contact with the cap and the wiping member.
A head maintenance device characterized in that the cleaning means, the cap, and the wiping member are arranged in the order of the cleaning means, the wiping member, and the cap. A cap that caps the nozzle surface of the head that discharges liquid,
A wiping member that wipes the nozzle surface and
A cleaning means for cleaning the cap and the wiping member by moving relative to the cap and the wiping member is provided.
The cleaning means includes an absorbing member that comes into contact with the cap and the wiping member.
A head maintenance device characterized in that the cleaning means, the cap, and the wiping member are arranged in the order of the cleaning means, the cap, and the wiping member. The head maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thickness of the absorbing member is larger than the height of the inner wall surface of the cap. The head maintenance device according to claim 4, wherein the thickness of the absorbing member is 1.2 times or more the height of the inner wall surface of the cap. The head maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hardness of the absorbing member is lower than the hardness of the cap. The head maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the absorbing member has a shape of a rotating body or a rectangular parallelepiped, or a brush. The head maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the width of the absorbing member is wider in the longitudinal direction of the cap than the width of the cap. The head maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the width of the absorbing member is wider than the width in the arrangement direction in which a plurality of the caps are arranged. The cleaning means has a holding member on the side opposite to the side of the absorbing member that contacts the cap.
The head maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the holding member is provided with a slit penetrating the holding member. The head maintenance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the absorbing member is provided with a means for applying a cleaning liquid to the absorbing member from a side opposite to the side in contact with the cap of the absorbing member. A head that discharges liquid and
A device for discharging a liquid, which comprises the head maintenance device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. A printing apparatus comprising the apparatus for discharging the liquid according to claim 12.

Images